by Dilly Court
At last they were husband and wife and the congregation rose to their feet as the happy couple made their way to the vestry to sign the register. When they processed down the aisle Judy was aware of smiling faces on all sides. It seemed as though the whole village had turned out to celebrate the nuptials of Hilda and Wilfred, with one major exception – Jack had refused to leave his room. He had stubbornly turned his face to the wall and nothing anyone said made any difference. In the end Judy had given up, as had his mother, and he had been left in the house with only Molesworth to tend to his needs.
A cheer went up as the happy couple stepped outside into the blazing heat of a June day. Rice and rose petals were strewn across their path as they made their way to the flower-decorated landau, loaned by Mary for the occasion. She had also allowed Judy to organise the wedding breakfast in the great hall at the manor house, although it would not be such a lavish affair as the one ten years ago given in honour of Daisy and Marius. Daisy herself had been a great help when it came to organising the food and drinks, and the kitchen staff had been busy for days previously.
‘Crikey, I’m glad that’s over,’ Pip said, wiping his brow on his sleeve. ‘I’m sweating like a pig.’
‘Maybe,’ Judy said, chuckling. ‘But don’t let Ma hear you talking like that.’
‘You always were mouthy, Pip,’ Molly added crossly. ‘I think you’ve got worse since you started living over the stables.’
‘Well, you’re stuck-up now that you’re living at Colneyhurst.’ Pip stuck his tongue out at his sister and Molly cuffed him none too gently round the head.
‘That’s enough of that, both of you,’ Judy said sternly. ‘Remember whose day this is and behave yourselves.’ Judy turned to Nate, who was giggling. ‘And that applies to you, too. Come on, let’s go and get the ferry. If we wait for everyone else to go first there won’t be any food left for—’ She broke off as the boys raced off in the direction of the chain-pulled ferry.
‘Typical,’ Molly said scornfully. ‘Mention food and they’re off like a shot.’ She linked arms with Judy. ‘Let’s go. I’m starving. I hope Cook has done us proud.’
‘Of course she has.’ Judy set off at a slow pace, but the rest of the congregation were already marching towards the crossing.
Molly quickened from a walk to a near run, dragging Judy along despite her protests, and when they reached the ferry Molly elbowed her way to the front.
‘Move aside, if you please, for the maids of honour.’ With a triumphant laugh she boarded the ferry, followed by Judy, who smiled apologetically at Linnet and Elliot.
‘I’m sorry, Mr and Mrs Massey,’ Judy said hastily. ‘But we have to be there waiting for the bride and groom when they arrive.’
Elliot’s reply was lost as the boatman began to wind the crank and the boat jerked into motion.
‘I’m sorry, Mrs Marshall,’ Judy said as she stumbled against Daisy’s aunt, who was clutching her husband’s arm as if terrified that the small craft would sink.
‘That’s all right, dear. But please don’t rock the boat or we’ll go overboard and drown.’
‘Don’t be silly, Eleanora.’ Sidney Marshall patted his wife on the arm. ‘The creek isn’t deep enough here to drown you.’
She tossed her head. ‘Well, it would ruin my new gown and my best shoes, Sidney. You might like spending your life up to your knees in cold water, but it’s my worst nightmare.’
Molly giggled and Judy nudged her in the ribs, giving her a warning look. ‘We need to get to the house before the happy couple,’ Judy said earnestly. ‘Fuller should have sent the dog cart for us, but the rest of the party will have to walk up the hill to the house.’
After a relatively quick crossing Judy was relieved to find one of the under grooms waiting with the dog cart, onto which she and Molly climbed and hung on precariously while the vehicle jolted up the hill to the house. Barely waiting for it to come to a halt, Judy climbed down and hurried up the steps to find Molesworth waiting for her. He gripped her arm, which in itself was unusual as he rarely made any physical contact with the servants.
‘We’ve got a problem, Judy,’ he hissed close to her ear. ‘A very big problem, I’d say.’
She gazed at him in astonishment, never having seen him display any emotion whatsoever. ‘What’s wrong, Molesworth?’
‘Nothing is wrong, my dear.’ The voice was familiar and yet she could not put a name to the person until she turned her head to look at him.
‘Mr Tattersall?’ she murmured nervously. ‘Is it really you?’
‘I think Squire Tattersall is the correct form of address.’ The tall, sun-bronzed man descended the last few steps on the grand staircase and strolled towards them, eyeing Judy curiously. ‘Is it? No, surely you can’t be skinny little Judy with the snub nose and freckles?’
‘Yes, sir. I’m Judy Begg.’ She exchanged anxious glances with Molesworth. ‘But I thought you were in Australia. I mean, that’s what everyone said.’
‘I was,’ he said agreeably, ‘and now I’ve come home to claim my inheritance, and it seems that I arrived at an opportune moment.’ He glanced over his shoulder at the tables groaning beneath the weight of the food that Cook and her underlings had prepared. ‘Well, now everyone can celebrate the return of the squire.’
Molly rushed into the house, followed more slowly by Eleanora and Sidney.
‘Who is he?’ Molly demanded, staring at the intruder, wide-eyed. ‘He looks a bit familiar.’
‘I have the advantage,’ Jay Tattersall said, grinning. ‘I remember you, young Molly. Although you were quite small when I left for the Antipodes. You’ve grown into your looks, I must say. You’re quite a little peach.’
‘I think I’m going to faint,’ Eleanora leaned against her husband, covering her eyes with one hand. ‘I don’t know how you’ve got the nerve to turn up like this, Jay Tattersall.’
‘Eleanora, my dear aunt-in-bigamy, and Sidney, too. This is an unexpected pleasure.’
Sidney grasped Molly by the hand. ‘Run and warn my niece, will you, please?’
Molly shook her head. ‘It’s too late, sir. Look behind you.’
‘Jay!’ Daisy Walters stood in the doorway, staring at him in a mixture of horror and amazement.
‘You’ve got a nerve, sir.’ Marius Walters placed a protective arm around his wife’s shoulders. ‘I’m astounded that you dared show your face here.’
Jay shrugged and smiled. ‘I am the legal lord of the manor, Walters. Do I take it that you’ve made an honest woman of my erstwhile wife?’
Marius leaped forward, but was restrained by Nick Neville, who had followed them into the house.
‘Don’t waste your energy on him, Marius,’ Nick said angrily. ‘Jay loves to create a stir, no matter who gets hurt in the meantime.’
‘I say, Nick, that’s not true. I’m a most reasonable chap, and I would have expected a warmer welcome home after all these years. Anyway, what’s going on? You’re all dressed up so it looks like a wedding.’ Jay glanced round at his stunned audience as the rest of the party began to arrive. ‘Don’t tell me that Ma has tied the knot with some other old codger who’s likely to pop off and leave her a fortune.’
Daisy wriggled free from her husband’s grasp and stepped forward, her eyes blazing. ‘How dare you speak of your mother in those terms? You should be ashamed of yourself.’
Before he could answer, his sister Dove pushed past Nick. ‘Jay Fox, you are a disgrace. I can’t believe you said that. How dare you come back to Little Creek and start causing trouble?’
‘You can go away again as far as I’m concerned.’ Linnet moved swiftly to her sister’s side. ‘We don’t want you here after what you did to Daisy. This is Hilda’s day, so mind your own business and keep quiet. We’ll sort you out later.’
‘Really?’ Jay threw his head back and laughed. ‘I think I have the upper hand, little sister. I have come back to take up my position as lord of the manor.’
‘You wre
tch!’ Daisy moved too quickly for anyone to restrain her. She rushed at Jay arm raised, and before he had a chance to dodge the blow she slapped his face. The sound echoed off the high ceiling, and there was a sudden hush as everyone stared at them, open-mouthed.
Jay nursed his red cheek, and then he laughed. ‘You wouldn’t have done that ten years ago, Daisy, my love.’
‘Maybe not,’ she said icily. ‘But it’s time someone took you to task. Jack has received a good education, and, due to your continued absence, he’s the lord of the manor now. You can’t take that away from him.’
‘What I do no longer concerns you, Daisy Marshall. You are nothing to me.’
‘I’m Mrs Marius Walters and have been for the last ten years, but I’m very fond of Jack and Mary, and I don’t want to see them hurt.’
‘The lady in question has just walked into the house,’ Jay said casually. ‘Mother, it’s me. I’ve come home.’
The guests who had crowded into the great hall moved aside, and Mary walked slowly towards her son, her face ashen and her lips moving soundlessly.
Dove rushed forward but Mary shook off her daughter’s restraining hand. ‘So you’ve turned up again, like the bad penny you are, Jay Fox.’
‘Oh, Ma, don’t play games with me. You of all people know who fathered me – I’m Jay Tattersall, and I am the master here now. I’ve spoken to Jack, and at least he is overjoyed to see me, which is more than I can say for the lot of you.’
A ripple of disapproval ran through the onlookers, but it seemed that no one had the courage to speak out. Judy stood frozen to the spot. She felt as though she was watching a drama on the stage, and as a member of the audience there was nothing she could contribute to the scene. But there would be no applause at the end of this performance.
‘How could you do this to us, Jay?’ Mary said sadly. ‘Why did you come back after all these years? Aren’t you ashamed of the trouble you’ve caused?’
‘All right, since you’ve pressed the point, Ma, I’ll tell you all the truth. I have come back to claim my inheritance, and I intend to sell the estate, lock, stock and barrel. Then I’ll return to Australia, where I have done rather well. I invested money in a gold mine, but I need more capital. As soon as I’ve got the means I’ll be returning to New South Wales. You can come too, Ma, but only if you behave yourself and promise not to nag me.’
‘How can you treat your mother like this?’ Daisy turned away and went to stand beside her husband. He placed his arm around her waist and held her close. Jay’s sisters clung to each other, and Dove was in tears, although Linnet scowled angrily at her brother. Judy was waiting for someone to speak up when the sound of the landau arriving outside made heads turn. It seemed to Judy that everyone were holding their breath as they waited for the bride and groom to enter. She had the eerie feeling that even the old house was waiting to see what happened next.
Arm in arm Hilda and Wilfred walked into the great hall, but they were greeted by silence. Hilda came to a halt, gazing round wide-eyed until she spotted Jay, and then she dropped her posy and her hand flew to cover her mouth. She broke away from her husband and hurried to Mary’s side.
‘What’s going on? Why is he here?’
Mary shook her head. ‘Jay has come to put us all out onto the street. He’s so like his father that it’s unbelievable.’
‘I’d ask you all to leave my house,’ Jay said casually, ‘but it seems a shame to waste good food. Eat and drink and celebrate the return of the master. Oh, and by the way, congratulations, Faulkner, you’ve made a wise choice. Hilda is all right. In fact I’d say she’s too good for the likes of you, but there’s no accounting for taste.’ He paused, gazing round at the stunned faces of the guests. ‘Come on then. Start celebrating or I’m afraid I’ll have to throw you all out.’
‘You’re a bastard, Jay,’ Nick said in a low voice. ‘In every sense of the word you are rotten to the core.’
Jay shrugged and turned away. His gaze fell on Judy and he beckoned to her. She hesitated, looking round in the hope that someone else would step forward. However, most of the guests seemed to have taken Jay at his word, and had hurried off to help themselves to the food and drink. Daisy and her husband had remained, but Jay’s sisters had walked away, leaving their mother to deal with her errant son.
‘Leave Judy out of this, Jay,’ Mary said nervously. ‘She’s served me well since she was a child.’
‘Maybe she’d like to accompany us to Australia.’ Jay leaned towards Judy, fixing her with a hard stare. ‘You’re fond of my brother, so he tells me, and he needs someone to take care of him during the voyage.’
‘You haven’t changed,’ Daisy said bitterly. ‘You’re still playing games with people’s lives, and it’s cruel, Jay.’
He ignored her, focusing his full attention on Judy. ‘You can speak for yourself, I’m certain. What do you say?’
‘I want to see Jack.’
Jay stood aside. ‘Of course you do. Up you go, young lady. Mop his brow and whisper sweet nothings in his ear, while I enjoy some of that excellent-looking food, and a glass or two of wine. Come along, Daisy. Let’s be friends again – you too, Walters. No hard feelings.’ Jay extended his hand to Marius.
‘I can never forgive you for the way you treated Daisy,’ Marius said stiffly. ‘If I had my way I’d horsewhip you, but we’re civilised people, and that’s not acceptable. Just don’t expect me to befriend you, Tattersall.’
‘That goes for me, too.’ Daisy slipped her hand through the crook of her husband’s arm, and they walked away.
Mary was the only person left, apart from Judy, who remained at her side.
‘Well, Ma?’ Jay faced her with a supercilious smile. ‘Are you going to tell me off, or threaten me with some dire punishment?’
‘Why are you doing this?’ Mary asked in a voice that shook with emotion. ‘Why do you always have to spoil everything that’s good?’
Jay looped his arm around his mother’s thin shoulders. ‘Come on, Ma. Let’s eat and drink – it’s a wedding party, after all. We’ll talk about the details later.’ He glanced over his shoulder. ‘Go upstairs and talk it over with Jack, there’s a good girl, or I might withdraw my offer, and then you’ll be out of work, like the rest of the servants.’
Judy drew herself up to her full height. ‘You are a very bad man, Mr Tattersall. I wouldn’t cross the creek for someone like you, and if I can persuade Jack to remain here, then so be it.’ She turned on her heel and walked slowly and deliberately upstairs, holding her head high. She had learned to deal with bullies at an early age, and she decided that Jay Tattersall was the worst of his kind. She did not look back, and when she was certain that he could not see her, she broke into a run. She arrived in Jack’s room breathless, and with her flower-trimmed hat tilted at a dangerous angle.
‘You’ve seen my brother?’ Jack’s faced glowed pink with excitement and there was a hint of the old sparkle in his eyes. ‘Did he tell you that he’s going to take us to New South Wales where he has shares in a gold mine, and he’s building a hotel? We’ll be rich as Croesus.’
‘You don’t know that, Jack. From what I’ve heard of your half-brother, he’s more likely to lose money than to make his fortune. Why do you think he wants to sell Creek Manor if he’s doing so well?’
‘All businesses go through bad times; Jay told me so and I believe him. Anyway, I’m sure the sea voyage will set me back on my feet.’
Judy went to kneel beside the chair where Jack spent many hours each day. It was placed close to the window so that he could look out and enjoy the view over the park.
‘Is that what you really want?’ she said gently. ‘I mean, do you really want to give up the manor house and all your friends here in Little Creek? You might hate Australia.’
He gave her a steady look. ‘Why are you saying these things? I’m not a child, Judy. I know what I want, and it isn’t being stuck here day in and day out like the cripple I am. Jay wants to sell up here so
that he can double his investments and make even more money.’
‘That’s all very well for your brother, but are you sure it’s best for you, Jack? Would you get the medical treatment you need?’
Jack curled his lip. ‘You mean like the amazing cures that your Dr God has offered me? All he and Nick can say is that in time I might be able to walk again, but they can’t promise anything. In reality what they’re trying to tell me is that they don’t know how to treat me, and they don’t really think I’ll ever walk again. I broke my back – and that’s the end of it. Jack Fox, crippled for life.’
‘You mustn’t think like that. You know that the doctors said it might be the condition they call spinal shock, and one day you might simply get up and walk.’
‘I don’t want to talk about it now, but I want you to come with me.’ Jack reached out to clutch her hand. ‘Say you will, Judy. I need you.’
She withdrew her hand gently. ‘I don’t know about that. I’ll have to think about it.’
‘What is there to think about? You say you love me, so you must want to be with me.’ His arched eyebrows drew together in a frown. ‘Or do you love Creek Manor more? Is that why you’ve been so attentive? Did you want to marry the squire?’
Judy leaped to her feet. ‘That’s so unfair and it’s not true. I can’t believe you said that, Jack. You’re the one who should give the matter more thought.’
‘What are you saying?’
‘Your half-brother isn’t to be trusted. Look what he did to Daisy and the other women in his life.’
‘His private life has nothing to do with it.’ Jack turned his head away. ‘But I’m not going to argue with you. Anything is better than being cooped up here in my room. I might as well be dead.’
‘You could have broken your neck,’ Judy said angrily. ‘Then you would have died. You’re alive and you have a loving family and friends to look after you. If you go with Jay you’re risking everything.’ She hurried from the room. There was no reasoning with Jack when he was in this mood. If she stayed any longer the argument would go round in circles, getting nowhere. She decided to join the party. After all, it was Hilda’s day, and Jay must not be allowed to ruin it for the newlyweds.